Start a Recycling Program at Work
The formula for a successful business is to maximize income while minimizing costs. By reducing waste your business can avoid the high costs of waste disposal and lower net operating costs. Most businesses use materials that are easily recyclable, such as paper, plastic, packaging, glass, metal and wood. Some of these commodities such as office paper and metals are valuable recyclables and could add a new source of income to your business.
Reducing, reusing and recycling are the basis of a comprehensive waste reduction program. Often all you need to do to get started is to establish a few simple policies, then communicate those policies to employees. The following information is taken from Wake County's Waste Reduction Guide for Businesses (.pdf). Contact us to receive a waste reduction guide free of charge.
- Plan Your Program
- Design Your Program
- Start your Program
- Sustain Your Program
- Technical Assistance
- Additional Resources
Gain Management Support
Management support is critical to the success of your program. When doing so, it is important to show how a recycling program can impact the company’s bottom line and to help all employees understand the benefits. Use management support to:
- Implement company-wide recycling policies
- Allocate resources (personnel and money)
- Assist with ongoing employee communication about program successes
- Attend kickoff event or other company-wide activities for the program
Choose a Coordinator
Look for someone who is enthusiastic about recycling and can communicate well with co-workers, custodial staff and management about the program. The coordinator should be responsible for:
- Conducting a waste assessment
- Evaluating which materials can be reduced or recycled
- Organizing the program
- Procuring equipment
- Negioating contracts and working with service providers
- Contacting suppliers and staying current with recycled product prices
- Teaching employees how to recycle
- Ensuring that recyclables are ready for pick-up
- Telling everyone in the business about program goals and successes
If your business has several departments, you may want to create a recycling team to work with the coordinator. The team should include representatives of each department or division including maintenance, purchasing, personnel, food service and customer service. Each team member should have an interest in recycling, good communication skills and the authority to devote work time to the program.
Conduct a Waste Assessment
The process of looking at what your business throws away and the costs associated with doing so is a critical step in developing your program. A waste assessment will determine the following: (1)the quantity of waste your business generates; (2) your current disposal costs; (3) what your business throws away and could potentially be recycled; and (4) the cost/benefit of your recycling program. Download the waste assessment forms.
Step 1: How much waste does your business produce?
Determine how much waste your business generates annually by completing part 1 of the waste assessment forms. You will need to know the number of garbage containers and their volume. Download our types of collection containers if you are unsure about the volume of your containers. Note: if your garbage containers are unlocked, make sure the waste is actually coming from your business.
Step 2: How much does your waste disposal cost?
Disposal costs are either charged as a flat fee or included in rent or based on the volume and weight of waste your business generates. To get an overview of the specific costs associated with your current service, determine how your disposal costs are charged. If your company is in a multi-tenant building, disposal costs may be included in your lease or charged as a flat fee. You may need to get this information from your hauler, building manager, property management company or custodial staff. Once you have determined how the business is charged for waste disposal complete part 2 of the waste assessment forms.
Step 3: What is in your garbage?
Now that you know the amount of waste your business throws away and how much it costs, determine the types of materials and the percentage of waste each material comprises by completing part 3 of the waste assesment forms. Walking through your business will help you identify materials that can be reduced, reused or recycled. Plan to walk through on several different days and estimate the percentage of each type of material in the garbage (example: 60% mixed paper, 15% white paper, 10% plastic bottles, 10% food waste, 5% computer equipment). Visit each part of your business where waste is generated and where materials are stored. Now that you know which materials are thrown away, the relative volume of those materials and how much it costs to dispose of them, you need to decide what percent could be reduced, reused or recycled or purchased with recycled content materials. Focus first on the materials that make up the largest parts of your waste.
Step 4: What is your potential annual costs or savings?
Now you have the information needed to assess the costs and benefits of reducing, reusing and/or recycling at your business. Focus first on the materials that make up the largest part of your waste. Be sure to include start-up costs and projections for cost-savings. Complete part 4 of the waste assessment forms.
Once you have gathered the information you need, it is time to design a program that works for your business.
Step 1: Waste Reduction
Start by looking for ways to reduce waste.
- Purchasing: Are you overloaded with disposable merchandise? Try purchasing durable or reusable merchandise that is made from recycled materials instead of costly disposables.
- Manufacturing: What happens to trimmings or unavoidable overruns from your manufacturing processes? You can make it a priority to return these materials to the production process whenever possible.
- Packaging: Try to use just the amount of packaging you need — don’t overpackage items. Recycle or reuse boxes, packaging peanuts and bags.
- Distributors/Suppliers: Can your distributor deliver products in less packaging or take back old packaging for reuse? Do they offer products that are made from recycled materials?
- Food Service: Use refillable containers for condiments instead of individual packets. Serve beverages from dispensers rather than individual bottles or containers. Purchase washable and reusable aprons, gloves, linens and rags.
Step 2: Materials to Collect
Start with the materials that make up the largest portion of the waste stream or with the most commonly recycled items – paper products, glass bottles, plastic bottles, aluminum and steel cans. Determine if the material can be eliminated or reduced through a change in operations or reused by your company or someone else. Collect just a few recyclable materials at first. As customers and employees make recycling a habit, new materials can be phased in. For businesses with large quantities of recyclable materials, consider establishing a pilot program to work out any kinks before expanding the program company-wide.
Step 3: Collection
Determine how the recyclable materials will be handled. Will you hire a private hauler to collect the materials or will you self-haul them to a recycling drop-off that accepts materials from businesses? If you are in a multi-tenant building, contact neighboring businesses to find out:
- Are they already recycling?
- Who is their recycling hauler?
- What suggestions do they have based on their experiences?
- Can you consolidate your efforts and reduce collection costs?
Choose a recycling hauler
Recycling haulers offer different services and collect a variety of recyclable materials. Decide which materials your company will recycle and check with several haulers about their services and business practices.
Collection Containers
Consider the following when deciding what type of collection container to use at your business:
- Style – Many different styles of bins exist to fit different types of materials or different size collection or storage spaces. Your service provider may provide containers as part of your contract. If not, several varieties can be purchased at office supply and hardware stores. Download a list of the types of collection containers .
- Placement – Place containers in areas where recyclables are generated – near copiers, printers, fax machines, soda machines, desks, garages, bars, housekeeper carts, etc.
- Signage – Placing proper signage on and/or above all of the recycling containers will reduce contamination.
Storage Space
A proclaimed deterrent to recycling at work is the lack of space to collect and store recyclables. If space is limited at your business try to:
- Use stackable containers or utilize your vertical space with shelving.
- Place individual containers under desks.
- Place collection containers under tables, in cabinets, or outside.
Step 4: Cost
Possible costs associated with starting a recycling program include:
- Purchase or rental of recycling containers
- Ongoing collection charges by recycling haulers
- Costs of transporting materials to a local drop-off center if not contracting with a hauling company
- Processing fees
- Signage and other informational materials
Control costs by thoroughly research recycling services and remember that haulers compete for customers. Determine whether purchasing the containers for your business is more cost-effective than having the hauler include them as part of their service. Use opportunities to commingle materials to reduce labor (to separate recyclables) and the number of containers used. Once you have your recycling program in place, you may notice that you are NOT filling up your garbage dumpster as fast. Offset the cost of recycling by reducing your garbage collection frequency.
Customer and/or employee participation is critical to the success of your program. If you want strong participation, you must educate customers and/or employees about the program and make it easy for everyone to participate. Hold training sessions at staff meetings. Someone should be prepared to answer questions, provide encouragement and discuss the benefits of your company’s recycling program. Provide literature explaining the benefits of recycling. Your hauler may be able to supply educational materials. Some businesses have hosted a special event or party to kick off its program. To publicize your program consider making special recycling posters, buttons or banners. Once your program is launched, continue to encourage input and ideas from customers, staff and management.
After you have launched your new recycling program, you will want to ensure its continued success. Let management know how the program is improving the bottom line. Company and public recognition will keep customers and/or employees motivated and enthusiastic.
Step 1: Track Your Success
It’s important to monitor and evaluate the program to ensure its viability and success. To demonstrate that the program is cost-effective, track any income generated from the sale of recyclables and any savings in disposal costs. Ask your hauler to provide data on the quantity of materials recycled. Demonstrate how recycled materials purchased by your company have reduced the need for virgin materials or even how the program has saved purchasing or handling costs. Monitor the types and prices of recycled products used by your company to make sure you are getting the best deal. Prices for recycled content products can vary throughout the year.
Step 2: Keep Everyone Informed
Provide regular updates to customers, employees and management about the program. Everyone likes to hear a good word. Employees need to know that their commitment helps achieve the program’s goals. Positive communication and employee recognition are critical to the long-term success of the program. Post announcements from management to let everyone know of changes in the program. Emphasize the program’s success. Remember to reward good behavior. Consider giving awards to employees who have shown creativity, initiative or innovative strategies for waste reduction and recycling. Encourage each work area to designate a “recycling team leader” to monitor efforts, train new employees and encourage others to use the program.
Step 3: Get Recognition for Your Efforts
When your business joins the hundreds of other businesses already recycling, say so! Publicize your efforts by getting the message to employees, management and the public. When you make the commitment to recycle, you’re helping to reduce waste and improve the environment — the public, including your customers, will appreciate that.
If you need assistance establishing a recycling and waste reduction program, contact Wake County Solid Waste Management. We are committed to helping your business recycle, reduce waste and buy products made of recycled materials. We can provide you with the following technical assistance:
- Identify recycling haulers
- Provide recommendations on self-waste assessments
- Assist with the design of a collection system
- Award Commercial Waste Reduction Grants for businesses to start or expand their waste reduction and/or recycling program.
Let us know how you are doing, and remember that Wake County Solid Waste Management is here to help. We want to know about your company’s success recycling, reducing waste and buying recycled products. We also want to know if you need assistance to make your program maximize its potential. Good luck recycling and reducing waste!